QTOA Chairman's Report: May 2025

Dear Members,

The QTOA held a productive meeting with Queensland Racing Review Thoroughbred lead Kym Daily this month as we further discussed our thoughts on the industry and our submission to the review.

In a lengthy meeting, we discussed some of the key issues affecting owners in Queensland including the rising costs of ownership and the need for prizemoney levels to be not only sustained but increased.

The representation of owners on the Racing Queensland board was raised and we may put forward a recommendation to have an owners representative included.

Increasing costs to owners due to WorkCover premiums was also a key point of discussion and we believe that all stakeholders invested in the industry must take more responsibility in that area Including owners, trainers, breeders and sales companies.

We also discussed the challenge the industry faces to reinvigorate itself in the face of declining wagering returns.

We believe gaining enhanced support from tourism bodies to promote the romance of what the sport has to offer to wider and new audiences is a key to growing both industry and wagering returns.

All in all, it was a positive discussion and we also look forward to meeting with Racing Review chair Matt McGrath in the coming weeks as the review continues.

As far as timelines for the review goes, we understand it will be a lengthy process which is likely to stretch until the end of the year.

We will keep members informed as things develop.

————————

HAVE YOUR SAY 

Thank you to all the owners who submitted their feedback through the newsletter last month on our discussion topic about the raceday experience.

There were some key themes across-the-board and certainly enhancing facilities at our race tracks is something owners believe will improve the ownership experience.

The rising costs of ownership was another key theme which aligns with the QTOA’s submission to the Racing Review about trying to address the disparity between costs vs returns.

In this month’s newsletter, we are asking owners for feedback on how the industry can be better promoted in order to grow and reach new audiences.

To have your say, simply click here - https://forms.gle/rtWtmz8rC9PETpAh6

————————

WINTER STARS COME OUT TO SHINE 

The Queensland Winter Carnival has already delivered an abundance of highlights which is a positive sign before we reach the business end of the carnival.

The continued rise of Antino as a Group 1 performer has been a clear standout thus far, with the Tony Gollan trained galloper’s dominant wins in both the Hollindale Stakes and the Doomben Cup thrilling racegoers.

The Brisbane Racing Club’s free beer promotion around either Antino or Pride of Jenni winning the race attracted additional attention in the lead-up and added to the day post-race.

With Antino now being set for a tilt at the Cox Plate, it speaks volumes for the quality of the Winter Carnival.

Another Queensland trained horse has also caught the eye with the David Vandyke trained Philia scoring back to back Stakes wins and emerging as the favourite for the Queensland Oaks.

It is great to see two Queensland trained horses shining so bright and no doubt there will be much more exciting racing to come over the remainder of the carnival.